Rail.



UN TED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,326, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed October 31, 1903. Serial No. 179,383. (No model.)

To all 1077 0777, it 77?,(7-7/ concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS STEINBERGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Rail, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in rails. and more particularly to third rails employed for the purpose of distributing electric currents to moving Vehicles of various kinds. My invention relates to several distinct means hereinafter mentioned, and pointed out in the appended claims, and more particularly to certain features whereby the rail is made free to move relatively to its supports.

I am aware that efforts have heretofore been made to produce rocking supports and rails which are free to move longitudinally; but the rails so far produced .while permitting of more or less movement are nevertheless subject to the objection that they wear unduly upon the points of support and that there is great difliculty in distributing the wear as between the bottom of the rail and the support for the rail so as to keep the rail and its supporting mechanism in proper. shape and in good order.

Among the several advantages of my device as hereinafter described are the followmg:

First. The rocking of the rail shifts in a lateral direction the contact-point between the rail and the mechanism immediately below the same. This not only aifords a good bearing-surface, but distributes the wear upon the under side of the rail and tends to preserve intact the original shape of the surface both of the rail itself and all its supporting members.

Second. The rail member proper carries with it and preferably integral therewith all of the rocking mechanism except the plane surface upon which the rail may rest.

Third. Greater strength and greater simplicity are attained.

Fourth. The rail member may be completed and given its proper curvature or proper surface for causing its movement when in position, no mechanism being necessary for shaping the rail except such as may be employed in its original manufacture. In other words, the rail may be given its proper shape at the rolling-mill and is ready to rock when laid upon a'flat surface.

Fifth. If desired, the rail may be mounted upon plates of insulating material, as shown.

Sixth. Certain general advantages incidental to freedom of movement as between the rail and its support are attained.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is across-section through one form of rail, showing the same asmounted upon a plate of insulating material resting on a crosstie, the rail occupying its normal position. Fig. 2 is a somewhat similar view, but showing the rail as careened to one side; and Fig. 3 is a perspective viewshowing the form of rail indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the tread of the rail is shown at 5, theweb at 6, and the base at 7 At the bottom of the base 7 and integral therewith is a.rotund portion 8, having substantially a rocker shape. The edges 9 of the base portion are of the shape indicated. The spikes 10 are preferably provided with shoulders lland with lugs 12, the lugs being by virtue of the shoulders 11 spaced a little above the base of the rail, so as to be engaged thereby, as indicated in Fig. 2. One of the edges 9 comes into contact with the lugs 12 at the moment the opposite edge 9 comes in contact with the supporting-plate 13, which may be of insulating material.

One of the cross-ties is shown at 15, and upon each cross-tie a plate 13, of insulating material, is mounted, a part of the rotund portion 8 resting upon the plate 13.-

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the rocker-like portion of the rail does not engage the plate 13 at the same point when the rail is rocked into different positionsthat is to say, as between the contactpoint and the supporting-plates below it is constantly shifted in a lateral direction, so that the rail does not always rest upon the same part of the insulating-support, and this distributes the wear, preserving intact the shape of the bottom surface of the rail, prevents undue abrasion of the plates of insulating material, and enables the rail to have such a simple shape that it may be readily formed in a single integral piece.

Among the general advantages attained by my construction above described are: the rail slides with greater ease upon its supports, it rocks with greater freedom, the wear and tear upon both rail and supports is greatly lessened, and provision is made whereby the expansion and contraction may be effected without misplacing or straining any other parts. My form of rail also embodies a maximum of adaptability of movement, whereby it automatically adjusts itself, and thereby at all times presents an excellent contact-surface to the collector-shoe.

To people skilled in railroading, and more particularly in electrical railroading, the advantages of my rail will be apparent.

I do not limit myself to the particular form of rail shown, nor to the particular form of insulating-plates for supporting the same, nor to the use of an insulating member to be mounted upon cross-ties; neither do 1 limit myself to the use of limiting-stops of the kind shown nor to the employment of flanges upon the rail member.

Inasmuch as my rail tends to right itself when its center of gravity is slightly displaced, the rail member is supported in stable equilibrium.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. As an article of mftnufactuiea rail comprising a body portion of metal provided with a curved surface upon which said rail may rest, in stable equilibrium.

2. A rail comprising a body portion provided with a downwardly-projecting portion extending throughout the entire length of the rail and integral therewith, for resting upon supporting members and sustaining the rail in stable equilibrium.

3. A rail comprising a body portion provided with a downwardly projecting surface of small area for engaging supporting mechanism and thereby sustaining the rail in stable equilibrium.

4. As an article of manufacture, a rail comprising a body portion having a convex portion for engaging a supporting-surface for the purpose of allowing said rail to rock in a direction lateral to its general length.

5. A rail comprising a body portion provided with a downwardly-projecting portion for engaging a flat surface, and thereby sustaining said rail in stable equilibrium.

6. A third rail comprising a body portion provided with a downwardly-projecting portion for constantly engaging a supporting-surface so as to allow said rail to move, and

provided with other surfaces for limiting the movements of said body portion.

7. A third rail comprising a body portion provided with a downwardly-projecting portion upon which said body portion is free to rock, and also provided with other surfaces disposed upon either side of said downwardly" projecting surface for limiting the extent of rocking movement of said body portion.

8. A third rail comprising a body portion provided with a downwardly-projecting central portion upon which said body portion is free to rock, and a pair of flanges disposed upon either side of said downwardly-projecting central portion for limiting the rocking movements of said body portion.

9. third rail comprising a body portion of metal provided with a rocker-like surface extending throughout the entire length of said body portion and integral therewith, and a pair offlanges integral with said body portion and disposed upon either side of said rocker-like portion for limiting the rocking movement thereof.

10. A third rail comprising a flat supporting-surface, in combination with a rail member resting thereupon, said rail member being provided with a rocker-like surface, and means for preventing excessive movement of said rail member relatively to said supporting-surface.

11. A third rail, comprising a flat supporting-surface and a rail member resting directly thereupon, said rail member being provided with a downwardly-projecting portion engaging a comparatively small area of said fiat surface and sustaining the rail in stable equilibrium thereupon.

12. A third rail comprising a flat supporting-surface and a rail member resting directly thereupon, said rail member being provided with a downwardly-projecting portion engaging a comparatively small area of said fiat surface and sustaining the rail in stable equilibrium thereupon, and means for preventing excessive movement of said body portion relatively to the said flat surface.

13. A third rail comprising a flat supporting member,a rail member provided with a rockerlike surface engaging the same, and metallic fastening members connected with said flat supporting member for preventing excessive movement of said rail member relatively thereto.

14. A third rail comprisinga flat supporting member,a rail member provided with a rockerlike surface engaging the same, and threaded metallic spikes screwed into said flat supporting member and provided with heads for preventing excessive'movement of said rail member relatively to said flat supporting member.

15. A third rail comprising a rail member provided with a rocker-like portion, supporting mechanism for said rail member, and a plurality of metallic spikes rigidly connected with said supporting members and provided with dersffor positioning said stop portions of said spikes relatively to said supporting mechanism. 16 A third rail-comprising a rail member provided with arocker-like portion, supporting mechanism" engaged by said rocker-like portion, and limiting-stops engaging said supporting mechanism but, normally out of en-' gagement with'said rail member, said limiting-stops being provided with portions to be' Is intermittently engagedbysaid rail member and also provided with shoulders ing said supporting mechanism. I

17 A third rail comprising L supporting mechanism, a rail member resting thereupon andfree to rock, anda-plurality of spikes -pro-' vided with threads and with shoulders for engaging said'su-pporting mechanism' r 18. A third rail comprising a plurality of members of insulating material to be mountedupon cross ties, and a railme mber mounted upon said members of insulating material and .free to-rock thereupon."

19. A third'railcomprising aplurality of plates of insulating material to be-mounted upon cross-ties, a rail member loosely mounted upon said plates and freeto move relatively thereto, and means for preventing excessive movement of said'rail member relatively to saidplates, I m l 20. A third rail com-prising aplurality, of

7 plates of insulating material to be mounted .separately ;upon cross 1 ties, a rail member loosely engaging said plates and freeto moverelatively thereto; and a plurality of metallic members securedto said plates and free to be engaged by said rail member for preventing excessive movement of the same. '7

21 A third rail comprising a plurality of flat plates of insulating materiahmeans for supporting the same, a rail member provided with a rocker-like surface resting directly upon said plates so as to permit of relative movement between said rail and said plates, and mechanism connected with said plates for preventing excessive movement between said rail member and said plates.

22. A third rail comprisinga surface of insulating material, and a rail member resting directly thereupon said surface and said rail member being of such conformity that said rail member is free to move relatively to said surface.

23. A third rail comprisinga surface of insulating material and a rail member resting directly thereupon, said surface and said rail member being of such conformity that said rail member is free to move relatively to said surface, and means for limiting the movement of said rail member relatively to said surface upon which it rests.

241 A rail comprising a body portion pro vided with means for forming a variable space between proximate surfaces of the rail and of the support therefor.

25. A rail comprising a body portion provided with a surface for engaging a supporting member, the character of this surface being such asto cause the area of contact to shift laterally as said rail is rocked.

26. In a third rail, the combination of a rail member and a supporting member engaged thereby, the surfaces of said rail member and of said supporting member being of such a porting mechanism.

29. A third rail comprising a support of in-" sulating material; and a rail member mounted directly uponsaid support of insulating material and free to move relatively thereto.

A third rail comprising a pluralityof supportsof insulating material to be mounted separately, a rail member loosely mounted upon and directly engaging said supports. and free to rock laterally thereupon, and means for ber relatively to said supports. r

31. A. third railcomprising a plurality of supports of insulating. material, a rail member limiting the rocking motions of said rail mem- -provided with a surface of arbitrary conformity for the purpose of supporting the rail in stable equilibrium, said surface of arbitrary conformity resting directly upon said supports of insulating material so as to permit of relative movement between said rail member and'said supports, and mechanism detachably connected with said supports for preventing excessive movement between the same and said rail member.

32. A rail comprising a body portion provided with a surface ofarbitrary conformity for the purpose of supporting the rail in stable equilibrium, said rail being also provided with means integral therewith, for engaging a stationary surface and thereby limiting the movements of said body portion.

33. A rail held in stable equilibrium by a bearing-surface resting upon a single line of support.

34. A rail held in stable equilibrium along a single line of support approximately in the center of said rail.

35. A rail supported upon a bearing-surface, and approximately upon a central line thereof.

36. A rail supported upon a central line for the purpose of enabling said rail to move angularly in relation to its support.

37. A rail, engaging a support and free to rock thereupon by a rolling motion.

38. A rail, comprising a body member and a support, said body member engaging said support along a single central line, whereby said rail is movable relatively to said support independently of any rocking movement therebetween.

39. A rail, provided with a single convex portion for engaging a support, and thereby sustaining said rail in stable equilibrium.

40. A rail, provided with a single bearing portion for engaging a support, and thereby sustaining said rail approximately upon a single central line of said bearing portion.

41. As an article of manufacture, a rail comprising a body portion of metal provided upon its lowest portion with a mechanical bearingsurface of rotund conformity for resting upon a support.

42. As an article of manufacture, a rail provided with a mechanical bearing-surface of suitable conformity to engage a comparatively small area of a support, and thereby sustain said rail in stable equilibrium.

43. As an article of manufacture, a rail comprising a body portion provided with a rotund bearing-face upon which said rail may rest, and also provided with portions for engaging a support and thereby serving as a limiting- 'stop.

44. As an article of manufacture, a rail comprising a body portion provided with a mechanical bearing-surface of arbitrary conformity for the purpose of engaging a support, and thereby supporting said rail in stable equilibrium and free to rock. I

45. As an article of manufacture, arail comprising a body portion of metal provided with its general length for engaging a bearing-surface, and thereby supporting said rail-over a movable fulcrum-point.

48. As an article of manufacture, arail consisting of a metallicbod y portion having a convex mechanical bearing-face integral therewith for engaging a supporting-surface, said bearing-face having a suitable curvature for allowing said rail to rock without tipping over.

49. A rocking rail held in stable equilibrium upon a flat supporting-surface.

50. A rail provided with a single curved bearing-surface integral therewith for engaging a support and thereby sustaining said rail in stable equilibrium.

51. A rocking rail having its seating-surface formed by a portion projecting downwardly from its under side.

52. A rail having a seating-surface of rotund conformity projecting, downwardly for the purpose of resting upon a support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' LOUIS STEINBERGER.

Witnesses:

F. W. HANAFORD, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

